Panzergruppe West launches a major counter-attack against Op Epsom, aiming to break VIII Corps, eliminate the Scottish Corridor & drive the British back. /1 #WW2#SWW#History
This ultimately dooms Army Group B to a grinding battle of attrition & dashes any hopes of a major counter-strike to the sea.
German ops don't go well... to the extent that Lt-Gen Miles Dempsey doesn't actually believe this is the main counter-strike.
It's too crap. /2
Staggered, uncoordinated, messy & piecemeal commitment of units doesn't help.
I & II SS-Panzerkorps completely bugger it.
A more assertive attempt on 1 July runs into more messy problems, e.g. Rauray.
This is arguably *the* decisive campaign battle for both sides. /thread
Once you seal yourself inside a metal box you lose a huge amount of senses, that said you are less likely to become a casualty to arty/mortar fire etc.
This isn't particularly surprising, but does perhaps indicate German crew should have been more willing to unbutton. /2
But again, there is this key cultural difference between British and German approaches - that underpins a).
Losing nerve is harder to judge, but numerous German tanks were KOed around Rauray so it's likely confidence was undermined & unexpected losses shook tank crews. /3